8-day Cornwall Walking Holiday

Make your own way to Padstow.

The old harbour usually has a nice ensemble of boats including the old pilot vessels. Nice pub fayre and a Rick Stein restaurant.

Leaving Padstow’s busy little tourist harbour, follow the shores of the picturesque Camel Estuary to Stepper Point. You'll likely have views to Bodmin Moor inland and to the ‘Doom Bar’: an offshore sand bar which has wrecked hundreds of ships over the centuries, largely because the surrounding cliffs take the wind out of the boat’s sails as they try to enter the harbour. In fact, it became so notorious that many vessels would risk being wrecked on the coast rather than negotiate the entrance to Padstow in poor weather.

More coves pass by until you see the limestone and slate Porthmissen Bridge natural arch. From here continue on to Trevone Bay and Harlyn, two beautiful sandy beaches, popular with surfers. The path reaches Trevose Head where on clear days you can see both St.Ives and Newquay. You'll then turn south and cross more sandy beaches around Constantine, passing Trethias Island nature reserve, and threading your way through coves to descend to Porthcothan Bay.

NOTE: ue to no accommodation in Porthcothan, you will be transferred back to your accommodation in Padstow and back to Porthcothan Bay the following morning.

Challenge: 21 km / 13 mi, 6 hrs, 263 m ascent, 258 m descent

From the bay the path climbs up to Park Head, which provides wonderful views of Bedruthan Steps, a set of rock stacks that have been a popular tourist feature since the railway reached Newquay in 1875.
Passing the village of Mawgan Porth the route follows the cliff top above Watergate Bay. Approaching Newquay, the path arrives at Trevelgue Head and the largest Iron Age fort remains in the county. Continuing over Barrowfields, with its three Bronze Age barrows, the path descends to Newquay.

This is quite a shock after the day’s peaceful walk. Nevertheless, the town overlooks fine golden sands, which cushion the Atlantic rollers and make this Britain’s surfing capital. Before surfing fame, Newquay was another famous fishing port, seining out the millions of pilchards that arrived every July. It was also a silver and lead mining centre.

Challenge: 17,5 km / 10.9 mi, 5,5 hrs, 285 m ascent, 268 m descent

Leaving the harbour, the path climbs up Towan Head past the whitewashed Huer’s Hut, where lookouts would shout the arrival of the pilchard shoals to waiting fishermen. You'll then follow the cliffs around Pentire Point to take the ferry across the Gannel River. The path winds around headlands and coves to Kelsey Head, the site of an Iron Age promontory fort, and then descends to the village of Holywell.

Following golden sands along Perran Beach and, depending upon tide levels, you reach the village of Perranporth either by the beach or the cliff.

Challenge: 18.5 km / 11.5 mi, 6 hrs, 310 m ascent, 333 m descent

A fairly easy stretch of walking today on well used paths occasionally dipping into valleys. The South West Coast Path follows the cliffs around Cligga Head, past mineshafts, now home to horseshoe bats, and the remains of tin mines, with dramatic views of the mine buildings and chimneys dotting the landscape further on around St Agnes. Enroute you drop into Trevellas Porth and then Trevaunance Cove, which has a waterside pub.

It is then pleasant ascending to St Agnes Head past bird nesting cliffs, to the little village with the same name and terraces of miners’ cottages including an interesting little museum in an old chapel. The path descends past the ruins of Wheal Coates Mine to the sandy inlet of Chapel Porth.
Then back up to the cliff tops, the path goes past the Wheal Charlotte Mine, drops down to the beach at Porthtowan and then follows the cliff top path to the harbour at Portreath.

Challenge: 20 km / 12.5 mi, 6 hrs, 433 m ascent, 431 m descent

Leaving Portreath, there is a strenuous climb up Tregea Hill and 10 km / 6 miles of National Trust land. Continue high above the sea and reach a rather sensational breach in the cliffs called Hell’s Mouth. At Navax Point, you might be lucky enough to see grey seals. Further on, you will see the lighthouse perched on Godrevy Island, probably the inspiration for Virginia Wolf’s ‘To the Lighthouse’.

The lighthouse marks the landward end of a treacherous line of reefs, called The Stones, which have claimed many wrecks and many of their victims are buried in the churchyard at Gwithian, a sleepy thatched cottage village with an interesting old pub, The Pendarves Arms. The path then meanders through the Towans sand dunes to the busy port of Hayle. 

Challenge: 20 km / 12.4 mi, 6 hrs, 268 m ascent, 273 m descent

A short day which should give you enough time to discover beautiful St Ives, with its museums and galleries. Skirting the Hayle Estuary, which is noted for its seabirds and waders, the path passes along the dunes above Porth Kidney and then passes beautiful Carbis Bay to reach the town.

Protected from Atlantic storms, St Ives was once the most important fishing port in Cornwall but, like elsewhere on the surrounding coast, by the beginning of the 20th century the fish stocks became depleted, and the fishing fleet largely disappeared. However, as early as 1811, Turner visited to paint the seascapes and, by the late 1880s, there were several artists installed and the town became famous for its vibrant artists’ colony. This perhaps reached its heyday during the late 1940s and the 1950s. Today their work can be seen in the St Ives Tate Gallery, the Barbara Hepworth Museum, and the Bernard Leach Gallery. It is also a great place for fish & chips.

Challenge: 9 km / 3 mi, 3 hrs, 184 m ascent, 179 m descent

Arrangements end after breakfast.